Could Your Medication be Causing Forgetfulness?

A variety of medications can cause forgetfulness. While it is important to always check with a doctor to help identify the source of memory problems, an examination of prescription and over-the counter drugs in your daily routine could also provide some answers.

According to the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, the main cause of temporary memory loss could inadvertently be due to medicines or other medical treatment. There are many categories of drugs that have shown to lead to some temporary memory problems.

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Research points to several types of offenders including anti-anxiety medications, anti-depressants, blood pressure medications, hypertension drugs and even incontinence drugs, reports AARP.

In a 2011 study of adverse drug reactions which included memory loss, researchers discovered certain treatments for acne (retinoids), as well as a drug called ciclosporin, which is used to treat arthritis psoriasis and dry eyes could potentially cause memory loss.

Doctors recommend patients experiencing memory loss related to medications explore lifestyle options or other categories of drugs also shown to have a positive effect on the health condition they are trying to treat. It is also important to give your doctor a list of all medications, prescription, over the counter and herbal or vitamin supplements that you take on a regular basis.

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns that drug interactions are important to check because they could make your medicine less effective or cause unexpected side effects. There are many over the counter medications that can interact with prescription drugs. Certain drugs can also interact with foods in your diet or with drinks like alcohol. Even using a nicotine replacement product could potentially cause drug interactions that would require a re-dosing.

The FDA also warns that over the counter nutritional supplement products claiming to improve memory loss are often fraudulent. Often times these medications could actually cause problems rather than cure them.

This article is for information only and is not intended as medical advice. Talk with your doctor about your specific health and medical needs.

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